Tag Archives: Bob Eaton Autographs

Mr. and Mrs. George Dunton Widener from Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, France, with their son, Harry Elkins Widener, Mr. Widener’s man servant, Edward (a/k/a Edwin) Herbert Keeping, and Mrs. Widener’s maid, Amalie Henriette Gieger. They had been in Paris with their servants searching for a chef for Widener’s new Philadelphia hotel, the Ritz Carlton. The Wideners were one of the richest and most influential couples on board. It was they who were standing on deck with White Star Line manager J. Bruce Ismay when Captain Smith handed Ismay the now iconic ice warning from the Baltic which Ismay then placed into his pocket. And it was they who hosted the now famous dinner party in honor of Captain Smith on the night the Titanic hit the iceberg. Questions have arisen as to whether Smith had imbibed too much alcohol at this party, but such rumors have never been substantiated.

A United States Series 1899 silver dollar certificate, 7.5 x 3.25, signed and inscribed by S.S. Titanic survivor August H. Weikman, “This note was in my pocket when picked up out of the sea by ‘S.S. Carpathia’ from the wreck of ‘S.S. Titanic’ April 15th 1912/A.H. Weikman/Palmyra, N.J.” Small separations along the three vertical folds, scattered light foxing, soiling, a few small chips to edges, a couple small pinpricks to body, otherwise very good condition.

The fifty-year-old Weikman, a resident of Ivybank, Southampton, England, was one of three barbers on board the S.S. Titanic and the only one to survive the disaster. He provided a gripping first-person account of the tragedy in testimony before the US Senate Committee that investigated the tragedy, in part: “I was sitting in my barber shop on Sunday night, April 14, 1912 at 11:40 p.m. when the collision occurred…. I went to the main deck and saw some ice laying there. Orders were given, ‘All hands to man the lifeboats….’ I helped to launch the boats…. I was proceeding to launch the next boat when the ship sank at the bow and there was a rush of water that washed me overboard and therefore the boat was not launched by human hands…. I was about 15 feet away from the ship when I heard a second explosion. I think the boilers blew up in about the middle of the ship…. The explosion blew me along with a wall of water towards…a bundle of deck chairs, which I managed to climb on. While on the chairs I heard terrible groans and cries coming from people in the water.” Weikman was one of few lucky survivors later picked up by the R.M.S. Carpathia. The present item is believed one of only two or three such certificates signed by Weikman in existence. Weikman, who had made the Atlantic crossing with the idea of taking up residence in Philadelphia, died in Palmyra, New Jersey in 1924 and is buried in Morgan Cemetery. Perhaps needless to say, fully documented Titanic artifacts of this nature are of exceeding scarcity. Provenance: Previously sold at Butterfield and Butterfield; Fine Books and Manuscripts 1999 sale, Los Angeles, being lot 7394. RRAuction COA.

Vintage 3.25 x 5.25 exhibit card of Cobb in his Detroit uniform, with printing at the bottom of the card identifying his team as Philadelphia, nicely signed in fountain pen, “Ty Cobb.” In fine condition. Cobb signed with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1927, after being cleared in a game fixing scandal brought about by Dutch Leonard. Pre-certified Steve Grad/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.

ALS signed “Eleanor Johnson Shurman, Titanic Survivor,” one page, 6.25 x 8.75, no date. Letter to a collector. In part: “I have autographed all the sheet music and hope that it is satisfactory…My grandfather was dying and wanted us to come. He died before we got there. We couldn’t take the ship we planned to and got tickets aboard the Titanic for return to U. S. Our dining room steward gave us escort to the boat deck and were able to get on Collapsible D, the last boat to be lowered. That was 2:05 AM. The Titanic sank at 2: 20 AM.” Accompanied by sheet music to ‘How Do You Do,’ 9 x 12, signed on the front cover in black ink, “Eleanor Johnson Shurman, Titanic Survivor,” and the letter’s original mailing envelope, postmarked November 29, 1996. Also accompanied by a commemorative cover with a cachet honoring the Titanic, postmarked May 6, 1934, and a couple of news clippings mentioning Shurman, one of which is her obituary. In fine condition, with creasing and edge wear to sheet music. RRAuction COA.

Vintage 7 x 10.25 photo of a reproduction of a Renoir, featuring a young woman holding flowers. The photograph is an authentication of one of his most attractive paintings. Signed in the bottom border in ink, “Renoir.” Also written in the bottom border by the Mayor of Cagnes, “Pierre-Auguste Renoir, artiste paintre, 9 Janrie, 1910,” signing below and adding the official stamp of city hall to authenticate Renoir’s signature. Image is affixed to a slightly larger cardstock mount. In very good condition, with some trivial rubbing, light ink borders around the image, adhesive remnants from previous mounting, and a few purple government stamps, one lightly affecting the signature. A rare opportunity to own an authentically signed Renoir at a fraction of what the painting would cost. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.

As we approach the 100th Anniversary of the RMS Titanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage, RR Auction is offering the public the opportunity to bid on a vast array of recovered relics and signed memorabilia relating to one of the grandest—and most infamous—vessels to ever succumb to the sea. These surviving items convey the astonishing legacy of not only the ship that epitomized the very meaning of opulence, luxury, and stability in the early 20th century, but her passengers as well; the individuals whose names would forever became synonymous with the most devastating peacetime maritime disaster in history.

This historic assemblage will be available for bidding starting April 19-26. A preview will be available beginning March 23rd. For details, go to rrauction.com.

Otherwise occupied with “public affairs,” Cromwell sends “Mr. Stapylton, to treat with you about the business in agitation between your Daughter and my Son”

English soldier and statesman (1599–1658) who led Parliamentary forces in the English Civil War, waged war against Scotland and Ireland and, in 1653, following the execution of Charles I, became Lord Protector of Great Britain, a position he held until his death in 1658. After a yearlong reign by his son, Richard, the British throne was restored (to Charles II) and Cromwell’s body was exhumed and posthumously ‘executed.’ ALS in Old English, signed “O Cromwell,” one page, 7.25 x 11.5, March 8, 1648. Letter to his son Richard’s future father-in-law. In full: “Yours I have received; and have given farther instructions to this Bearer, Mr. Stapylton, to treat with you about the business in agitation between your Daughter and my Son. I am engaged to you for all your civilities and respects already manifested. I trust there will be a right understanding between us, and a good conclusion; and though I cannot particularly remember the things spoken of at Farnham, to which your Letter seems to refer me, yet I doubt not but I have sent the offer of such things now as will give mutual satisfaction to us both. My attendance upon public affairs will not give me leave to come down unto you myself; I have sent unto you this Gentleman with my mind. I salute Mrs. Mayor, though unknown, with the rest of your Family. I commit you with the progress of the Business, to the Lord; and rest.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, one through a single letter of signature, scattered light toning and foxing, and two wax remnants to left edge.